Morning all.
It’s been ten years since we last won our opening two fixtures. The BT Sport crew made sure we didn’t forget that little gem, just like both they and Sky Sports made sure we remembered how long it was since two young English players started a Premier League together. Whatever floats their boat eh…
Burnley didn’t spring any great surprises really. Tough, physical and very organised. No big superstars but big hearts and big commitment from start to finish. I don’t think Arsenal will be the only team to find them hard to break down.
Saying that, we created a few really good chances to score and converted two of them which was enough to win the game. Ceballos was at the heart of all things good and I’d love to see him stay beyond his loan term. He’s everything you want a midfielder to be, he does everything Ozil and Ramsey doesn’t and didn’t.
Pepe showed glimpses of the kind of player he’s going to be for us. Quick legs, very quick feet. One of his previous coaches told Sky Sports he’s lethal in front of goal. Had he have got more on his tame shot, we’d have seen what he meant. I doubt we’ll have to wait long to have his view confirmed though.
David Luiz certainly gives us something different at the heart of defence. Row Z sometimes, other times, cause for concern with a pass across the goal. In general though, I thought he did well. As did Willock. Did I mention Ceballos?
Aubameyang and Lacazette scored two very different goals. The Frenchman’s was all about strength, determination and desire, while Aubameyang’s was all about speed, skill and precision. That’s what our two strikers give us, a great combination. The two together with Pepe and Ceballos should only get better and better as the season goes on. And with Martinelli, Nelson and Saka in the mix too, our attacking force is as good as any other in the league. Perhaps better. Who can forget Ozil? A truly great player when he’s up for it, a great disappointment when he’s not.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TglzESs-WB4
The worrying side of our game goes on though. Burnley were allowed too much time and space in our own half. Time to ping cross after cross into the box. Most of the time we managed to scramble the ball out of danger. Barnes beat Leno once but that was hardly his fault. I’ll leave that discussion for the comments section as we’ll probably disagree on who was letting the team down. If anyone.
Unai Emery said a few days ago that we need to defend better as a team. We didn’t. Just like we didn’t play the ball out from the back very well either. In my opinion, if the players can’t master the system after all this time, then Unai Emery would be better off ditching it altogether as it’s going to cost us points. Try something different, something new, something which improves us.
Another negative in my opinion was our lack of zip. We were a big sluggish when it came to turning defence into attack which allowed Burnley to reorganise themselves at the back. The pace of Aubameyang, Nelson, Guendouzi etc should have caused our opponents more problems than it did, certainly in the first half. Nelson was very unlucky though not to have got on the scoresheet. A well taken goal ruled out for offside. Rightly so I hasten to add, although earlier in the game the linesman flag went up too quickly when we were away down the left. Burnley were fortunate that time I thought. Perhaps the PL should change their stance on the offside rule and discourage linesman to flag unless it’s an obvious decision. We have the technology, use it I say.
Talking of VAR, I think it made a difference today. Not because of an overturned decision etc but just because it’s there. In the dying minutes of the game, Burnley were on the break and looking dangerous down our right hand side. Whether or not a goal might of been the end result we’ll never know because away from the ball, there was a foul on one of our players. Mike Dean blew his whistle and gave us the decision, something he might so easily have allowed to pass this time last year claiming he didn’t see it. With big brother watching him, perhaps he knew he had to get it right. Sean Dyche thought Dean was too lenient and should have penalised a few of our players for going to ground too easily. Perhaps if his players weren’t quite so bullish, ours wouldn’t have too. Dish it out by all means but accept the decision an official makes when they do.
Finally, much was said by Fletcher and Keown about Lucas Torreira. How he’s dropped down the pecking order at Arsenal and how he might be sold before the other European League transfer windows close. All because he hasn’t started for us in the last two games.
How quickly they forget that he and Elneny only returned to Arsenal on the 1st August after being on international duty through the summer.
See you in the comments..
Dyche = the new SAM ALLARDYCE both brainless and no idea about the game apart from long balls and hacking player the sooner idiots like that are kicked out of the game the better
Morning rico, all. Good summng up, don’t want to be too critical after a good win, any Premier League win is a good win. But when we play out goal kicks from the back 95%, and the other team know this and hard press, surely time for plan B and get over half way line? I didn’t expect it to be Ceballos that we would be raving about, but with his quick feet in tight situations, I think we may have a new Santi Cazorla for a season. And I loved his reaction, after the 2nd goal, looks a winner.
Morning all.
I am not commenting on “playing out from the back” as it’s to frustrating lol
Good morning Rico and thanks for the post.
Good though it is to see emerging players in the team we need Torreira to start in midfield. I like Willock a lot but I think he was surplus to requirements yesterday given how well Ceballos plays.
The important thing is the three points which will add to the teams confidence in the tough games ahead.
Morning Rico, everyone,
6 points out of 6.Ceballos was excellent, really classy, you can see why Real Madrid want him back.I thought Luiz was good, although defensively we were a shambles, no better than last season.This playing out from the back just doesn’t work for us.I dread to think what Liverpool will do to us.
Still positives,I thought Pepe also looked lively,he combined well with Auba.Its a mystery why Lacazette is always substitued though.
It’s hilarious to hear Dyche whining oabout simulation,his own players are the biggest cheaters going.Also not only do we have to put up with the vile Mourinho on Sky,BT have Van-Persie now,wow these TV companies really hate Arsenal.
I intend to watch the Ashes today, hopefully England escape with a draw.
Sean the Dychebag is one massive hypocrite.
To coach Rugby tactics then suggest our players hit the deck a lot is quite funny, to be fair.
Two points in front of Man City
Two points in front of Spuds
Six points in front of Chelsea
Three points ahead of Man Utd
That’s not bad after two games, Newcastle with a new manager was a classic banana skin, Burnley will prove difficult to beat and are a good, well drilled team that’ll finish comfortably in the top half of the table.
I don’t really like this playing out from the back malarkey, but most of the top teams use it, I don’t think that Liverpool or the Spuds launch it and Man City definitely don’t so we’ve just got to get better at it, but if we do mix it up then we have a great outlet in Pepe and that’s the key, mixing it up, suddenly going long, keeping your opponent on edge, don’t be wedded to one way of starting off your moves.
There’s a lot to be positive about with this team and it’s still developing, still evolving, it’ll change as the season progresses, in will come Tierney and Bellerin and Holding.
Pepe will start, Torrieira will start, Emery has a lot of scope for rotating his team without losing any of its effectiveness, he can keep his players fit n sharp and in Martinelli he has a very interesting option.
I do hope that he is imaginative with his squad at Anfield next week…..
Morning Limey, Andrew, Cicero, all.
With Xhaka injured, Torreira not ready to start I don’t think Emery could have selected much different than he did. Maybe Luiz in midfield but I guess he was in defence because of how Burnley play the game.
Scott, re your comment on the last post, i agree, the last three tests will be interesting. It could become a Smiths ashes, or Archers. Just hope the weather doesn’t muck them up. Better weather is predicted so fingers crossed.
Hi Don. I don’t think Dyche is clueless. What would you give to see our defence as organised as his team? Mee and Tarkowski who imo, would look great in a red and white shirt.
Limey, Lacazette has just come back from injury, I get why he was subbed.
Morning Rico. When Dyche recommences his typical moaning, suggesting that Mike Dean was somehow conned by Arsenal players going down and fouling as happened just before the final whistle, I wish he could be shown the video, live on camera. This clearly shows the horrible Barnes dragging the player to the floor – and then asked whether it was a foul or was it yet another example of Arsenal cheating. Bigmouths like Dyche really need to be confronted on air to put up or shut up. One of the worst fouls in the game was committed by you-know-who when he jumped into Guendouzi’s back and bought his knee, with force, straight into his spine. It was a com-lately deliberate act.
Dyche is one of the last of a dying breed of manager, thank God and he has inherited Fergie’s age-old tactic of picking what your team is most guilty of and then blaming the opposition for exactly the same thing. I remember the old dog saying that he would have a word with the ref (Mike effing Riley) before they played us because he had noticed what appalling cheats Arsenal were and he wanted to warn him. As soon as the whistle went the Neville sisters, Scholes and the rest proceeded to kick lumps out of us with impunity while that ghastly weak weasel Riley did sweet FA about it.
Morning Adam.
I get why teams try and bully us and I don’t care if they do really as long as the game is played within the rules. Dyche and one or two others still believe the southern softie label applies to us but it doesn’t, not really, not anymore. It’s funny that he moans though, especially when one considers how one of his players dropped to the ground when Willock barely touched him, how his players push, shove and barge ours on set pieces etc.
As said in the post, dish it out by all means, but be a man about it and accept things when a line is crossed as we do when Xhaka, Mustafi, Torreira etc get one wrong or late.
Kev, may the best side win.
That’s all we can ask.
Spot on Kev, it’s refreshing to have two wins under our belt and not yet with all our players fit or up to speed.
I don’t expect us to win at Anfield but Liverpool aren’t playing that well either right now and both their keeps are injured I believe. Things like that make a difference and we must take advantage of any insecurities their defence might have.
I can see us nicking a draw.
Remember that Barnes and Guendouzi have previous , the stamp in the chest went unpunished last year and yesterday’s accidently on purpose knee is something that referees should be aware of prior to the game . Perhaps Dyche would like to grunt about that .
Liverpool will give us our share of chances, so it could end up a shootout.
Ignore this..trying to work out why I have to enter username and email every post…
Never in a million years Potter, he’s like Wenger, never sees what his own players do.
You need to sign into WordPress by the sounds of it Scott.
Any ideas, Rico?
I’m logged in-still the same.
On the thorny and rather tedious issue of VAR I noticed a new ‘angle’ from the Spurs match yesterday evening. Lamela commited an obvious foul in the box that was a penalty all day long. It went upstairs where some wimp ref agreed with Michael Oliver that it wasn’t a penalty. It was suggested by Gary Neville that, what with Oliver being considered the top ref in the country, the bloke upstairs didn’t want to overrule him on that one and thereby undermine him.
The handball at the end was another nonsense too and highlighted a massive problem that is going to fester away as the season progresses.
Still we have got rid of Pulis and Allardyce for the time being now Dyche is the last of the dinosaurs trying to influence referees with their true northern grit .
Sadly not Scott, you could try logging out and then back in again. WordPress is temperamental sometimes.
WordPress.com rather than .co might help.
Adam,
Officials start making fewer and fewer hard calls, instead referring to VAR, thus slowing the game down and it becomes more and more prevalent in each and every game.
I understood the handball decision, but the penalty decision was dreadful and the chap not giving it on review should have to answer a few questions this morning.
Until we enter the League and FA Cup Potter.
Rico. The handball decision has stemmed from a complete change in the rules. Before, there needed to be some degree of intent. Now it only needs to touch a hand for the goal to be ruled out. Intent has been taken out of the equation. My point really is that VAR was intended to take a detached and forensic look at the action but as we see, it is still riddled with personalities and ego-driven decisions.
It’s a shame really because Dyche has done a great job with Burnley, he’s kept them competitive on a relative shoestring, but he’s beginning to sound as sour as Pulis.
I can sense that after a couple of contentious wins by us at Turf Moor that Dyche is a tad frustrated with his results vs Arsenal, but I doubt that anyone will take him seriously, the only thing I worry about is a knock on effect if other managers take up this diving Arsenal thing, which as we know is bollocks, but the media do love running with some bollocks don’t they…?
Is it just me, but it feels like the Premier League has been a slow burner this season, no midweek fixtures, just one a week until we enter the League Cup and UEFA Cup.
It’s been helpful and allows our new players time to integrate…
Seeing Tierney, Bellerin and Mavropanos running in training is great to see and with Holding already playing in the U23’s everything is so positive for us and long may that remain so…
I know that the Interweb and Twitter etc etc, are full to the brim with his fan club, but I’ve not given Mesut Ozil a single thought on match days.
As for Mustafi, it’s almost as if he’s already left….
I know Adam, that particular new rule was talked about on here a few days ago. I like the rule as it ends the question of whether or not there was intention.
I’m not sure they will Kev as other managers are moving away from bullish tactics instead trying to play football. Once Burnley get into other sides, Dyche will be moaning about them too…
Rico. I’m not so sure, but VAR has certainly changed the atmosphere and the spontaneity of the crowd and their emotions. I suppose we will just have to get used to it until we lose a game in extra time because the ball may or may not have brushed an elbow. As we know, the camera can lie and the hideous spectre of Mike Riley looms large.
Doesn’t the handball issue involving a goal only adversely effect the attacking side as it doesn’t apply at all to defenders?
Have I got that correct?
Scott. I think so but that seems marginal because, applying the same standards to defenders would surely result in a penalty. This could mean that flicking the ball against a defender’s arm would become a legitimate tactic. Once you change the rules to accommodate technology there are bound to be issues I would think.
It was always going to divide fans Adam. I’m just fed up with all the cheating and am totally in favour of VAR. we are one team who might well benefit from a bit more honesty.
I’m all for honesty Rico. A level playing field and all that. We’ll see how it all pans out as the season progresses.
If it’s left to Mike Riley to wield the sword of British fair play and honour I am sure the game is in safe hands.
Adam, I do hate sounding like a broken record, but I keep going back to Rugby League here as we’ve seen it all unfold and really not helped the game at all.
The technology isn’t always adapted to the rules, unfortunately, it’s quite often the opposite.
Let’s hope they nut things out and make it work because it could be fantastic.
I said elsewhere that once advertising started during the time down for the video checks, the amount of times it was used each game increased, but I am sure that coincidental lol
KFC love it here.
Scott, you do indeed sound like an old record… 😀
Smith out of Test with concussion…
He could miss the next Test… 🤔
An old classic, Kev 🙂
Nah, the Aussies just want to keep things interesting hahaha
Maybe some of those others will earn their keep for a change!!
To be fair Burnley are well organised and defensively solid. And have a great goalkeeper on yesterday’s showing. Just a shame about the whingeing and roughhouse tactics.
The pressure on the Aussies just went up a notch..
Adam, sorry I had things to do. Surely if things go badly wrong, Riley will be out of a job. He must already be living on borrowed time in his role..
Chavs are on a roll.
I found out just now that the ECB recently changed its rules on new arrivals representing England from the previous 7 years residency down to 3 years, thus enabling Archer to play for “his country” 4 years earlier than previously, but I’m sure that was coincidence.
No need to break rules when you own the rule book, I guess.
No bites-bugger, I got plenty on FB hahahaha
Seems the weather worked in our favour this time, but also, the advantage thus far has been with those batting first or more importantly, NOT batting last.
I realised your wind up Scott. I’m afraid many of us, me included, recognise when you’re trying to start an argument. Lol
Weird old start to the football season. Quiet that’s for sure but then maybe that’s because we haven’t been beaten yet…. 😜
Argument?
Nah, banter 🙂
Soft buggers hahahaha
Great series and full of interest,
And that’s what it’s all about.
If only Roy had held his catch……
Just hope the weather doesn’t ruin the last three tests, should be well contested matches, especially if Anderson comes back, although I’m not sure who’d make way as it can’t be Archer.
Then if Smith isn’t hit, who knows, he could still be batting 🙂
It all adds to the intrigue.
So much better then these borefests where batsmen rule for 5 days
Morning Rico and the house.
What a great wend for the club.
U23s 2 Brighton 1 (h)
U18s 5 AVilla 1 (a)
U16s 5 AVilla 0 (a)
Then 2-1 Burnley
Kev Cirjan played first game for U18s.
Edu’s son played first game for U16s
Both of them provided assist’s for first goals for side.
Stand out though ESR for U23’s Cotteral and Azezz for U18.s
The Hale End conveyor belt is looking good
Morning Rick, great to see wins all round.
Long may our conveyor belt keep churning them out…
Smith should wear the groin guard box on his face ! 😷
Lol LC, he will look like Stuart Broads twin brother bahahahahahaha
Interesting ref watch on Sky Sports today. Lol
Afternoon All.
Cheers Rick, Edu junior is quite a promising prospect from what I’ve heard…
I saw line up of the England U16’s who beat Denmark over the weekend, only one Arsenal player in the squad…
Cottrell is looking a very useful player, as is Swanson, lower profile than some but often these players develop at a more steadied rate and continue to develop.
I’m actually really looking forward to the League Cup to see what kind of squad Unai Emery picks, especially as he now has Freddie Ljungberg in his ear?
Injury ravaged Nathan Tormey is an interesting case Rick, he must have lost over two years of his career but has really done well for the U23’s this season, incl’d pre season.
Is it too late for him?
Probably at Arsenal, but we can still continue to develop him and hopefully get a fee for him as we did with Thompson…
I wonder if Martinelli will play in the Leasing Trophy games for the U23’s Rick?
He certainly qualifies by age, as does Tierney as it goes, maybe an opportunity for our new left back to get some fitness against a EFL team?
Northampton Town (a) Aug 27th
Peterborough Utd (a) Oct 1st
Cambridge United (a) Nov 5th
League cup draw next week, hopefully we can play lots of youngsters, although I wonder if Emery will also use it to keep the likes of Ozil, Mustafi,Elneny,Mikki ticking over (some might have been sold)
It would make sense to utilise the squad , give Martinez a game , spice it up with returnees from injury , Holding , Smith – Rowe etc play a few fringe players with John- Jules up front and more established players like Nelson and the first team experienced currently non playing members .
Then a great interest is who he puts on the bench.
Good afternoon, Rico, and the other matelot citizens of the good ship HH.
A day late, but can I say how much I enjoyed ‘yesterday’s’ Post, Rico.
The ensuing football comments covered everything I might have said, but I was peculiarly relieved to read Pepe had fast legs, and fast feet. If he had fast legs and slow feet, I fear he would tear himself apart at Warp Factor 10.
Both the ‘Offside’ arguments regarding VAR being too slow to properly calculate an offside, and cause a ‘good’ goal be disallowed because a player’s ear was a centimetre offside, and in addition, the ubiquitous handball changes to Law 12 affecting whether a goal should be over-ruled because a cross had brushed a team mates shirt by a millimetre, and fallen for a team mate to score.
I am sure that these are unintended consequences of the changes to the Laws, but if they are not amended there is going to be bitterness when points are fought for, and lost, because of a millimetre here or there, when the season’s climax reaches its peak next May/June.
It’s ironic that FIFA/UEFA tried to ensure an advantage was given to goals scoring (to appease the world wide TV viewers) because in the harsh light of commerce, attracting money spenders (fans) to the game is deemed all important.
The impact of these law changes is that fewer goals will be scored because of the aforesaid millimetres, that cannot be seen by anybody except by slowed down video, with often poor close ups to justify it.
Wait until fans start to scream their anger and money for TV starts to drop — then they will amend the Laws quickly — all because they did not understand what they were doing — idiots.
Scott I think I had to put my IP address in the website the first time.
Back to football. I followed both games but had not watched them. I have watched them now. The defense needs corrections; restarting the game from our area only gives chills. We have players who are more advanced and indifferent to what is going on; Pepa has to be more involved and decisive in the game.
Next, the dippers. We have a team to make a positive result, especially if the pitch is not slanted.
We shouldn’t write off playing the ball out from the back, with the pace of Pepe it could be a good strategy. Draw the opposing defenders forward and then play a ball for Pepe to chase and get behind their defence, if Aubameyang and others can get forward quickly we should create scoring chances. The secret will be for defenders to find Ceballos quickly and for him to pick the pass to Pepe.
We had a very good transfer window and a promising start to the season but we beat, by a single goal, probably the worst run club ever to reach the Premiership, a club whose manager probably hasn’t found the key to his own office yet and has a totally demoralised squad. Our other win was a closer game, than a lot of us care to acknowledge, against a physically strong but technically limited mid-table side.
Saturdays’ daunting trip to Merseyside will tell us much more about our progress and our chances of maintaining our top four status.
Limey I’m not 100% sure but I think the League Cup draw (3rd rd) is on…Thursday 29th.
And the draw for the group stages of the UEFA Cup is on the next day…..Friday 30th.
Traducoes…
Come on Wolves… lol
Hope we avoid Rangers Kev. Lol
Thanks Reg, how do I find my IP address?
Technology and I don’t get along so well hahaha
What a goal for Ruben Neves!!!!
Now we can’t celebrate a goal at the time. The “descriptive geometry” must be expected to validate the goal
🙁
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49401640
I don’t mind who we get Rico as long as we avoid long trips, like to the bloody Caucasus…
Was Pogba actually touched, ?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/08/19/arsenal-devise-complicated-plan-keep-pierre-emerick-aubameyang/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
Potter, if contact was made, and I’m not sure it was, Pogba initiated it.
VAR should be sorting these divers out!!
Scott,
Open Control Panel/ click on Network and Sharing Center. You will see a “box” With the left side showing your router title, right side showing a hyperlink ( a link that can be clicked on). Click on it and your Wi Fi will show. You’ll see a box with details. Click on this and details of your Wi fi will show. Go to IPv4 or IPv6 and you’ll see a sequence of numbers and letters. This is your IP address.
You’ll have a choice of either/or IPv4 or IPv6 depending on the frequency of your connection. It is actually the unique address computers to communicate.
Hope this solves your problem.
use to communicate
Thanks Kev,that Europa League draw will be interesting.I wonder which Champions League clubs will fall into it next year.
Chelsea ? Impossible to say at this stage.
I’m looking forward to the cricket,if Smith plays,it will be interesting to see if Archer & Co target him with short stuff.
Limey, ditto. My money is on Archer…
New post up now